Definition

Adjective: 1. Attached on one side only: Describes a building, typically a house, that shares a common wall with another building on one side, while the other side is detached and separate.

Usage

The word "semidetached" is used almost exclusively to describe a style of residential housing. It specifies that two houses are built as a pair, sharing one connecting wall. It is a standard term in real estate and architectural descriptions.

Examples

• They live in a semidetached house on Maple Street.
• The neighborhood is mostly made up of semidetached properties.
• A semidetached home often offers more space and privacy than a terraced house but is less expensive than a fully detached one.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used figuratively to describe something that is partially connected or only loosely affiliated.
  • The two departments operated in a semidetached manner, with little communication between them.

Variants and Related Words

• Semidetachment (noun): The state or condition of being semidetached.
  • The semidetachment of the houses reduces construction costs.

Different Meanings

The primary and almost sole meaning relates to architectural structure. The figurative use is rare.

Synonyms

• Duplex (in some regions, though "duplex" often implies two separate living units within one building, which may be side-by-side or stacked).
• Attached (a broader term that can include terraced/row houses).

Antonyms

• Detached
• Freestanding

Related Phrases/Compounds

• Semidetached house: The full, most common phrase for this type of dwelling. Often abbreviated in conversation to "a semi."
  • They are looking to buy a semidetached house in the suburbs.

Adjective

1. attached on one side only
   • a semidetached house